Graijst crib



W. A. CALDWELL.

GRAIN CRiB.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3 1921.

1,42 1,763 nted uly 4, 1922.

3 $HEETS-SHEET I.

W. A. CALDWELL.

GRAIN CRIB. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3!, I921.

1,42 1,763. Patent d July 4, 1922;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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135/ J FJ flziiforn ya w. A. CALDWELL.

GRAIN CRIB.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31,192I-I 1,421,763. Patented July 4, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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W t eases 6424 4 y @2207 egg- UNITED STATES rArsN'r OFFICE.

WARREN A. CALDWELL, 0F OSKALOOSA, IOWA.

GRAIN CRIB.

Application filed May 31,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Wamucx A. CALDWELL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Oskaloosa, in the county of Mahaska and State of Iowa, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Grain Cribs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to grain cribs.

The invention has special reference to a crib constructed mainly of concrete and concrete staves.

The invention includes the formation and relative arrangement of semi-circular crib sections built up of interengaging concrete staves; the manner of associating or relating the crib sections to form a drive-way; the development in connection with the complete structure of bin portions for housing small grain and includes a proper housing or covering root for the complete structure.

The invention also includes specially constructed relatively spaced semi-circular base sections; driveway interposed between the sections.

The invention includes specially constructed concrete stave sections provided with ventilating openings; their relative arrangement in stepped relation and supporting or reinforcing rods for supporting the related staves in a semicircular form to form a crib wall and including tie-members or framing members related to the crib wall in a manner to permit connection of the reinforcing tie rods therewith to form a support for the ends thereof and to "facilitate the tightening of said rods whereby the sectional staves may be brought into the proper contact union to form a complete wall.

The invention includes specially termed and arranged transverse openings in each base section for the crib portions to provide entrance-ways "for carrying devices to facilitate withdrawing grain from the crib and also to facilitate the carrying out of essential ventilating scheme: the provision of detachable covering members for the open ways in the base section to form a removable flooring, the separate sections thereof de tachable at will as the corn is being removed from the crib sections.

The invention includes door-ways in the circumferential body portion of each crib section located immediately adjacent the open-ways in the base that are capable of be ing opened to permit the initial discharge of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4:, 1922.

1921. Serial No. 474,025.

grain which is necessary preliminary to removal of grain from the crib.

Together with the details of structure hereinbefore specially mentioned there is included within my invention the general plan of constructing a building for the storage of grain whereby comparatively small thin concrete stave-members may be united without the employment of a cement bond to form the main all portion and includes the develop ments of semi-circular base sections related in a manner to provide intermediate driveway and a construction that will accommodate the provision of small grain housing bins above the driveway whereby the utmost of economy in materials and the maximum of space may result to the end of the development of a substantially permanent and comparatively cheap building within which grain products of the farm may be stored.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing a base or foundation for a crib structure,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a section of: a corn crib and has special reference to the Formal parts and the relation of concrete staves to each other to the manner of relating a door-way to the foundation and an opening therein and to the assembled staves,

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a crib structure with parts broken away to better illustrate relative arrangement of parts of the complete structure,

F i is a detailed view of a concrete stave ot the type employed in the construction of the building.

The principal contributions to the art wherein comparatively thin concrete staves have been employed in the construction of corn cribs wherein no plastic bond was necessary have been made by this applicant and is exemplified in Letters Patent No. 1.998.174, patented March 25, 1919.

It conceded that the general plan of developing a building with a driveway intermediate grain housing crib sections is old as frame buildings of this character have been built for years. It is true that buildings of this character have been built ot brick and concrete blocks; but in the latter structures where there is involved the idea of PGTIDHHBHC) as distinguished from the employment of wood nevertheless buildings constructed of brick or concrete blocks were and are too expensive for general acceptance by the farmer and, furthermore, the walls were necessarily so thicl; and heavy as to be in the first instance very expensive and being thick and heavy absorb and retain moisture to an extent that such heavy walls were objectionable.

The prime thought I have had in the matter of developing a practical and economical building for housing grain has been to develop walls of concrete material and. to make the wall so thin that it would absorb but a small amount of moisture and retain it but a short period.

The general outline of forming a crib oi interlocked concrete staves held together by tie rods or hoops is old in my patent above referred to but when I come to apply a plan of utilizing concrete stavcs in connection with a building comprising semi-circular sectional parts or constructed otherwise than completely circular I found it necessary to devise special means for carrying out this plan and such means are herein exempli lied and constitute the present basis for invention and claims.

I have made a very necessary improvement over the crib proposed in my former patent in the manner of ventilation. l have found from experience that a liberal supply of grated openings in the exterior wall pro duced a very good crib, nevertheless he plan was incomplete because, except in cribs of very small circumference, there was not sufficient air circulated through the bony oil? the grain in the crib. ll found that by interposing a central stack in the crib and providing" free air entrance below the crib body that a strong current was developed in the flue that serves to draw the air from the circumference of the crib through the body of the grain and into the stacl: thereby effecting uniform ventilation that acts to thoroughly dry out the grain.

In developing my original plan as exemplified by my patent rein-red to no vision was made for entrance the ba In the crib for the removal of grain. lu i present plan it will be noted that have provided a special exit or open-way beneath the floor of the crib and have provided tachable board sections a covering hr? open-ways that are removable as the Q1 is removed; also l have provided a srna doorwa 1 built into the body of the crib immediately above the open-way in the base. This is to provide an initial opening whei by grain may be permitted to discharge suticieutly to relieve the carrying pressure upon board sections thereby permit g the first and then the second covering board tor the open-way to be removed and so on until the grain has been completely discharged from the crib.

Referring to the drawings, 1 have sl'mwn in Fig. 1 the detailed structure of the base.

or foundation portion of the crib. This includes the semi-circular main crib-sections 1". 11 are open-ways in the body or the base sections serviceable in *arrying out the ventilating plan and also adapted to provide an entrance-way tor a conveyor member of corn sheller outfit whereby through proper direction corn may be directed to the openway in connection with removal of grain from the crib. At the upper edges of the walls forming the open-ways are formed shoulder portions 12 to provide seats for the ends of filler boards, the latter adapted to be loosely placed over the open-way in order that they may readily be removed in connection with the unloading of tie crib.

Rase sections 10 are spaced apart a sufficient width to provide driveway therebetwcen and a concrete door as 13 may be laid in said driveway space.

Upon the base sections 10 are adapted to be erected crib sections formed of cone 'ete st-aves 1% (see Fig. i). The individual staves a: formed of a concrete body of about two inches in thickness and are provided with opposite tongue and groove portions 14 and l l respectively at opposite sides oi he blo k to accommodate the required lateral intercugagenicnt to facilitate said blocks being supported under exterior pressure in a circular wall in a manner that their circular arrangement supplemented by exterior pressure will cause an interlock against inward collapse. The blocks are offset as at 15 at each end to term an interlock against late *al shifting and are also provided with opposite tongue and groove portions 15"" 15" at their respective ends to form an interlock between adjacent stoves whereby when blocks thus formed are united in a wall and reinforced by tie rods they will be held again. t outward. or inward collapse or lateral shifting. Each block is provided with one or more ventilatopenings l6 and to said evening ipted to be supplied spaced g ting bars s 17 to prevent 'th, orziin from dislodgmcnt and also to prevent the entrance of rats or other animals.

Ugon the semi-circular base sections 10 adapted to be erected :rib-sections not of staves. Beginning at the base it st ves 18 are arranged alternately with sections lei as shown in the figures reby a step relation is established between the alternating stave-sections This :11. n emcnt is continued throughout the entire height of the crib-sections and when the upper t r is reached it is necessary to inteiposc si. lar shortscctions as .18 to build the wall at a uniform height tlu-ou a'hout the circumference thereof.

As the wall is being; built up and the tiers of staves are being arranged the hoop or rod members are applied and. in conjunction with their yplication upright members as 21 are employed and positioned one at each end of the wall and adjacent to the driveway, said upright members extending the full height of the wall. The respectiveends of the rod or hoop members are passed through perforations as at 22 in said upright members and are drawn into close supporting relation with the outer surface of the crib wall by means of nuts as 23 thereby securely binding the stave-members together. Any shrinkage that may be developed that would cause the staves to become loose may readily be taken up by merely tightening the nuts upon the rods.

The driveway sides of the crib-sections are formed of a plurality of upright members as 24 built up in the form of an ordinary bent that is interposed between the upright members 21 and suitable crossframin is employed and the complete bent is boarc ed up with spaced members to permit air circulation. An entry-door is provided in each of the driveway sections.

The driveway-walls of the crib are designed to be connected by crosstie-members at their top portions which serve to reinforce said sections against lateral pressure of grain in the crib-sections and also form the base upon which a floor is laid. Side walls are developed above the floor line mentioned to provide a housing-section for small grain situated between the crib-sections and immediately above the driveway.

A chute or spout-opening 25 may be pro vided in the bottom of the bin-sections whereby grain may be delivered directly therefrom into a wagon positioned in the driveway.

I have shown an elevator-housing 26 extending upwardly from the driveway. From the top of the elevator the grain may be chuted into either crib-section or into the small grain bins as may be desired. At the upper portion of the crib-walls and connecting the parallel driveway walls plate-members 26 are provided. A ridge-member is also provided and lateral framing-members connected therewith for joining with the plate-members whereby the foundationmembers for roof is provided.

Upon the roof-members any suitable covering may be disposed.

I have heretofore referred to the necessity of providing a preliminary outlet for grain to assist in unloading the same from the cribs. Referring to the drawings 27 is a metal frame adapted to be seated upon the base 10 and to span the open-way 11 in the base sections. This frame is preferably of rectangular form and of about the dimension of two complete stave-members. The stave-members are built up alongside of the door-way-frame and upon the upper portion thereof.

The framing section is designed to be of such depth that it will extend inwardly the full thickness of the wall and project outwardly a considerable distance from the outer face thereof. The door-way-frame is flanged as at 2829 at its upper and lateral edge to provide a bearing against the interior surface of the crib-wall. Tie-frames 30 are attached at each side of the doorframe, the same being adapted to be connected with rods 20 as shown in Fig. 2 to hold said frame in proper position within the wall.

lVithin the door-frame a door 31 is adapt ed to be interposed, said door being formed of sheet metal and provided with inwardly extending flange-members 32. The door is hinged to the framing by means of bolts as 33 that connect the door-frame and the flanged portions 28-29 of the door at their upper end portions whereby the door is so hinged that it may be drawn outwardly at the bottom to permit grain to escape. The door may be fixed permanently within the framing through and by means of boltmembers 34 carried in corresponding perforations respectively within the frame and flanged portions.

The door is designed to be provided with louvers, the same being preferably formed by cutting circular ways in the body thereof and expanding the metal immediately above the line of the cutting so as to form a deflector to prevent water to enter the louver-openings.

It has been found that ventilation and free air circulation is essential to the proper preservation of the grain in the crib and to this end I have provided a ventilating stack 38 in each crib-section, the same being interposed approximately at the center of each crib and immediately over and communicating with the open-way 11 in the base-portions. These ventilating stacks may be built up as herein shown of wood-framing comprising vertical upright members and connecting-members whereby a complete stack is built up with spaces provided there in to permit free circulation of air from or to the interior of the crib-sections and also to facilitate a draft-way from the openway beneath the crib to the top of the building. The ventilating stacks may discharge into the top portion of the building as herein shown or they may be continued to an open-way in the roof So as to discharge exteriorly of the building. The ventilating stacks may be built up of concrete sections provided with grated openings, if desired, whereby a similar result will be obtained to the structure herein disclosed.

in developing the crib structure the semicircular wall portions for the base members are first formed which comprehend the cir cular wall portions 35. the straight wall portions 36 interrupted by the transverse side of the drive-way which are set at thestraight edges of the base sections. Crossframing is interposed intermediat the height of the bents and similar ror ing-members are provided coniiectiiug the upper portions of the bouts. Suitable housing is applied for enclosing the space above the drive-way beneath the roof structure.

The walls of the main ,rib sections are formed by disposing first alternating short and long stave members throughout the circumference of the section except where the door-Way is to be interposed and set some what inwardly from the outer edge of the base.

At this point in the construction the door" way is set spanning the entrance to the openway in the base, the said door-way occupying the space of the width of two staves. Rod or hoop members are then applied to the face of the stave-members one at the lower ends thereof and one at about the top edges of the short sections the en of said rods being passed through poi-Lorations in the upright members 2i and secured in place by means of suitable nuts, the same being applied in a manner to draw the concrete staves into close union. in the portion of the wall within wnich the doorway is placed the rod or hoop members broken for connection as shown with the tieframes 30 connected with the door l anie. Continuing the building full stave-anoni are thereafter built upon one another in in terloolred relation and such rod and hoop members are applied as are necessary for support to the wall as the work progresses. This plan is continued until the upper portion of the wall is reached and then again short stave-sections are interposed to de velop absolute uniformity in the height oi each wall-section. Upon the upwai. edge of the wall plate-members are disposed which in general practice are at common height with the cross-framing-members connecting the top portions of the bent members thus forming a support for the roof. The roof may be developed in the usual manner by interposing a ridge-member in elevation above the plate-members and ap plying the ordinary and usual. cros aniing-members to support the roof. llp: n this framing roofing of any character desired may be applied.

The ventilating stacks are preferably mes built up as disclosed in the drawings the lower portion of each vent stack spanning the open-Way in the respective base portions, said stack being supported at its upper end in any suitable manner. The stack may terminate beneath the roof of the building or it may be extended if desired through the roof and may be suitably covered for protection against weather.

Supplemental to the crib concrete floor 37 of the crib-section short board sections are adapted to be applied to space above the open-ways 11 as shown and in order to provide for proper seating of the boards the upper marginal edges of the wall portions 36 of said open-ways are shouldered as at 12 to provide seats for the ends of the boards.

Tn withdrawing grain from the crib if it be small grain it is merely chuted out of the small grain bins through a chute as for deposit into waiting receptacles. If it be ear corn that is to be shelled the shellerdrag, a fragmentary portion of which is shown at the left of Fig. 3 and designated by the reference numeral 40, is entered within one of the open-ways 11 and the door 81 is opened by the removal ofthe necessary locking bolts and is drawn outwardly at its lower portion for grain to flow from the crib. After an initial flow of grain from the opened door within the first and there after other board sections over the openway are removed thus permitting the corn to flow into the drag.

The crib is designed to be built in such a way that it is practically lire and rat proof. It is designed to be so thoroughly ventilated that grain in almost any reasonable storage condition will be perfectly preserved.

il hat l claim is:

'l. in a grain crib, in combination, crib secspaced to provide an intermediate iriveway, each section comprising an arouite wall portion formed of a plurality of i ibled stave units. an end wall closure au cent the driveway, and means embracing the arcuate wall portion to maintain the .iit stave members in assembled relation.

and rod members embracing the arcuate wall portion and co-acting with the end wall closure in a manner to maintain the stave units in assembled relation.

1%. in a grain crib in combination, crib ctions spaced to provide an intermediate *eway each section comprising an arou- Wo wall portion formed of a plurality of assembled stave units, framing members adjacc the drbreway an end wall closure. and tie members embracing the arcuate wall iii:

portion and co-acting with the framing members to maintain the stave units in assembled relation.

t. In a grain crib, base members, each of said base members having a straight end and an arcuate end, the base members being spaced apart to provide for a driveway between the straight ends thereof, an exterior wall extending upwardly from each base member, each of said exterior walls comprising an arcuate portion extending from the arcuate end of the base member and formed of comparatively thin stave sections constructed to co-act to resist interior collapse, certain of said stave sections being provided with ventilating openings, a closure wall extending between the ends of each exterior wall and adjacent the straight end of the base member, and tie members embracing each exterior wall to prevent exterior collapse thereof.

5. In a grain crib, base members, each of said base members having a straight end and an arcuate end, the base members being spaced apart to provide for a driveway between the straight ends thereof, an exterior wall extending upwardly from each base member, each of said exterior walls comprising an arcuate portion extending upwardly from the arcuate end of the base member and formed of comparatively thin stave sections constructed to co-act to resist interior collapse, certain of said stave sections being provided with ventilating openings, tie members embracing each exterior wall to prevent exterior collapse thereof, a bent section closing the space be tween the ends of each exterior wall, means connecting the bent sections together for relative reinforcement, a housing above the driveway, and a ventilating stack within the enclosure formed by each exterior wall and its co-acting bent section.

6. A grain crib having an exterior wall and a floor constructed with a channel therein opening to the exterior of the crib, said channel extending substantially horizontally inwardly in said floor a substantial distance into the interior of the crib and adapted to receive the drag of a corn sheller and to permit said drag to be moved progressively along said channel into the interior of the crib as the latter is emptied.

7. In a grain crib having an exterior wall, a floor constructed with a channel therein opening to the exterior of the crib to receive the drag of a corn sheller, and a removable cover for said channel.

8. In a grain crib having an exterior wall, a floor constructed with a. channel therein opening to the exterior of the crib to receive the drag of a corn sheller, and a removable sectional cover for said channel.

9. In a grain crib having an exterior wall, a floor constructed with a channel therein opening to the exterior of the crib to receive the drag of corn sheller, a removable sectional cover for said channel, a doorway in said exterior wall immediately above the channel, and a closure for said doorway.

10. In a. grain crib having an exterior wall. a floor constructed with a channel therein. opening to the exterior of the crib to receive the drag of a corn sheller, a removable sectional cover for said channel, and a ventilating stack in the interior of said crib above and communicating with aid channel.

11. In a grain crib, an exterior wall formed of stave units coacting to resist internal col lapse, said wall having a door opening therein. a door frame for said opening set into said wall and having flanges engaging the edges of said door opening and supporting the wall immediately above said opening, and tie members embracing said wall to prevent exterior collapse thereof, certain of said tie members being secured to said door frame.

In testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature.

WARREN A. CALDWELL. 

